Volunteers Have to Be Fit for Duty

Readers are likely aware of the recent, tragic fire that claimed the lives of a distraught man and that of a distinguished Woodbridge Township volunteer firefighter. 

The man who reportedly set the blaze which took his live is said to have been despondent over the foreclosure on his second generation family-owned home, the foreclosure happened because of the tax burdens on the home.  Others in Woodbridge Township may also be suffering as a result of taxes levied by an administration that appears to be unwilling to curb its spending and taxing ways. Let's hope they will never resort to such a misguided act of desperation.  But that is a topic for another time.

What should be of immediate concern to the residents of all communities throughout the state is what took the life of the firefighter.  It was neither the fire nor an accident that occurred while he was responding to it that caused his death.  Rather, it was a heart attack.

The firefighter was not a young, physically fit individual.  He was, however, a man with such devotion to duty that he ignored his severe medical condition in order to continue with his many years of commitment to his volunteer firefighting duties. 

As most administration and residents around the state know, volunteerism is down.  Not because people no longer care, but because they are too busy just trying to make a living.  The volunteers that do exist are cherished for their devotion to duty.  But what regulations and/or standards exist to routinely ensure that both paid and volunteer service personnel are medically sound to perform their duties?

The US Military, as well as many federal agencies, the NJ State Police and some police departments in the state have regulations covering Standards of Medical Fitness (Google Army Regulation 40–501, for an example).  Such regulations help to ensure those who are serving are fit for the duties they perform.  Those standards not only help to protect the lives of those who serve, they also help to protect those with whom they serve, as well as the public. 

It should be self evident that if a volunteer or a paid professional has a medical condition that could put their safety or that of others at risk, their operational duties should be limited and, if necessary, suspended, until they are physically fit for their assigned and reasonable anticipated activities.  Aside from the obvious safety issues, there is also the costs to the taxpayers for insurance, such as health, workers compensation, and liability claims that must be considered.

If a community is unable to field enough volunteers for its EMS, police auxiliary and/or fire departments, public safety dictates paid professionals must be employed to fill the void.  But whether they are volunteers or paid, they must be held to standards that ensure they are in proper medical condition to do their job.  In that connection, the state legislature and the state’s insurance industry should work together to promulgate regulations and standards that ensure all who aspire to serve  and protect are fit for duty.